Tōshō-gū shrine erupts with gold leaf and carved dragons amid towering cedars. Nearby, waterfalls crash through autumn gorges and hot springs steam in the cold mountain air. Nikkō is where Japan's baroque impulse meets raw nature.
What Nikkō is known for
Top-rated in Nikkō
Kokamon Gate
4.7landmark
Iemitsu’s mausoleum, in which his physical remains are interred, lies beyond this gate.
Mt. Tanigawa
4.7nature
1,977-meter peak in northern Gunma, highest in Tanigawa range, one of Japan's 100 famous fiendishly difficult climbs.
Senju Hall
4.7temple
Senju Hall houses a statue of the Senju, or Thousand-armed Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion.
Sanjo Falls
4.7nature
100-meter cascade plunging through virgin beech forest in Oze, accessible by scenic hiking trail from the marshland.
Mashiko Folk Pottery Workshop
4.7craft
Drop-in Mashiko pottery studio, no reservation needed for hand-building with local clay and glazes.
Nikko Toshogu complex
4.5landmark
Takinoo Shrine
4.6shrine
A quiet Shinto shrine tucked into the cedar forest above Nikko's main temple complex. The mossy stone path and lack of crowds make it a contemplative counterpoint to Toshogu.
Yashamon Gate
4.6landmark
This is the final gate that defends the approach to Iemitsu’s mausoleum.